Resources
Contact Us
Humane Handling Institute
hhi@uwrf.edu
715-425-4987
Making Informed Decisions
The Humane Handling Institute provides expert training in humane animal handling, stunning equipment maintenance, and effective stunning techniques. Resources include guidance aimed at promoting best practices and ensuring animal welfare in meat processing facilities. These resources help improve skills, enhance product quality, and build consumer trust.
In The News
- Meat and Poultry, July 2025
- Eau Claire Leader Telegram, May 2025
- The Cap Times, July 2024
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 2024
- Leader-Telegram, June 2024
- UWRF’s Humane Handling Institute secures $1 million gift from Rosen Family Foundation, Inc.
- Meat and Poultry, June 2024
- Meat and Poultry, March 2023
- WPR Morning Show, December 2022
- AGRI-VIEW, November 2022
Posters, Handouts and Tip Sheets
- Slippery Surfaces and Livestock Handling
- Keeping Captive Bolts Warm in Winter
- Preventing Rust and Corrosion in Captive Bolts
- Shiny Electrical Stunners: Preventing Rust and Corrosion
- What is a "robust systematic approach to animal welfare"?
- Captive Bolt Types
- Preventing Water Damage
- Cattle Vision vs. Human Vision
The Humane Hand Newsletters
- July 2026
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
Research Summaries
- Stun Placement for Dairy Cows (Anderson et al., 2025)
- Stun Placement for Bison (Matzek et al., 2025)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Yaks (Hamilton et al., 2024)
- Captive Bolt Type and Placement for Sows > 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2024)
- Broken Tails in Holstein Cows (Olsen et al., 2023)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Swine < 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2024)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Swine > 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2021)
- Head Only vs Head-Heart Electrical Stunning for Swine (Vogel et al., 2011)
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Please utilize the resources below or speak with a trusted professional today.
- Mental Health & Wellness, National Milk Producers Federation https://www.nmpf.org/resources/mental-health-and-wellness/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: a free and confidential service that is available 24/7. Anyone can access the Lifeline by calling 988 (multiple languages available), texting a message to 988 (English only) or using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only).
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- National Crisis Text Line: Text 741741
- Trevor Lifeline: provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386.
- Turningpoint: for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Call 1-800-345-5104 or 715-821-8626.